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Are you looking for fun things to do in Sarasota during the Fourth of July weekend? Sarasota is the place to be, there’s plenty of fun filled events, including fireworks, and boat races!

Sarasota Grand Prix Events

Thursday – June 29

Celebrate the Grand Prix with their Festival Kickoff Party. The party takes place from 6-10pm at Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens.

Friday – June 30

Powerboats will be on display throughout downtown Sarasota in the “BOATS ON MAIN” Downtown Block Party. Visitors have the chance to meet the race teams; there will also be food, drinks, and music!

Saturday – July 1

The Grand Prix Fan Fest will take place in the Van Wezel Parking Lot. There you can see the teams preparing for the race, and watch the race live from underneath a tent. There will be food, music, a full bar and many vendors. And the Miss Powerboat P1 Swimsuit Contest begins at 1pm.

Qualifying Races run from 9:30am – 3:30pm at Lido Beach.

Sunday – July 2

Sunday features another Grand Prix Fan Fest, this one is at Centennial Park and includes food, music, a full bar and many vendors as well as the ability to view the races from underneath a tent.

Powerboat races run from 9:15am- 4:00pm with the best viewing on Lido Beach.

Fireworks

Tuesday – July 4

The Bayfront Fireworks Spectacular begin around 9pm; this marks the end of the Sarasota Grand Prix Festival. Fireworks can be viewed from anywhere downtown.

The 27th Annual 4th of July Fireworks on Siesta Key begin around 9:15pm. They are launched from the north near the volleyball courts, so viewing is best south of the Public Beach, and on Crescent Beach. Of course either of the Sarasota fireworks displays can be viewed from the Gulf, or the Intracoastal Waterway. Keep in mind that these are popular events, so plan ahead for crowds.

You can always ditch the fireworks and fanfare and spend time with family, at a cookout, on America’s Best Beach, or better yet, hop on a kayak and spend a beautiful day on the water! You won’t be disappointed.

Things to do in Sarasota (Part 3)

Many visitors feel that Sarasota is a place to get away from it all and relax. Yes, that might be true for some, but others, love our beautiful area for all it has to offer. We have nightlife; you can relax at the beach, we have shopping galore, and plenty of water sports.

After a fun filled day on the water, what else can you do some may wonder. Located in close proximity to downtown Sarasota is Siesta Key Village. The village is everything you’d expect from a beach town. It is quirky, quaint and fun. There are plenty of places to stop and get a drink, eat, and of course, plenty of shopping!

If you’re going to be in Sarasota for Valentine’s Day, you won’t want to miss their Valentine Stroll. On February 14th, EVERYONE GETS A KISS. Yup, you read that right; all you have to do is look for pink and red balloons at participating merchants. There will be live music throughout the Village, and those merchants participating will be distributing candy kisses! There’s no need to worry about parking, there will be a pedi cab as well as golf carts taking you from the Siesta Public Beach parking lot to the Village.

A little later in the month, head on down to Ocean Boulevard and Beach Road to take part in the 23rd Annual Siesta Key Craft Festival. The festival features more than 100 crafters showing and selling their work in an outdoor gallery. If you want it, you can probably find it with everything from jewelry to artwork. You don’t want to miss this. The festival takes place on the weekend of the 25th.

Having fun doesn’t have to cost money. There are so many things to do in the Sarasota area, and since you can’t put a price on happiness, here are a few things you can do in Siesta Key that are free!

Go to the Beach!

Our beaches are free! There is no charge to get into the beach, or to park your car in the lot. This is
pretty amazing because Siesta Beach has some of the finest, whitest and in the world. The water is also very calm and clear which makes it perfect for swimming. Grab your sunblock, a towel, a good book and anything else you need to complete your perfect beach day. Stay through till the evening to see one of the best sunsets on the west coast!

Collect Shells

Anther fun thing to do is to collect shells. Turtle Beach on the south end of Siesta Key will have the most shells on the island. Shells can be found on all of Siesta Key’s beaches (Siesta Beach, Crescent Beach and Turtle Beach), but Turtle Beach has more due to its location, and because it’s much less crowded than Siesta Beach.

Go Diving

Also located on the southern end of Siesta Key is Point of Rocks. This is arguably the best place on the west coast of Florida for snorkeling. There are more than 100 yards of limestone ledges to explore. The calm waters make for a perfect beginner dive. Parking can be difficult, so it is best to go in early morning and get a spot at beach access No. 12. Parking spots are limited and are usually filled by mid-morning.

Things to do in Sarasota

When you hear of Sarasota, Siesta Key Beach, beautiful Gulf Coast Waters, and gorgeous white sand beaches probably come to mind. All of those are true, but there is so much more to do; All year long. This is especially true during the holiday season. Some people might think that being in a warm gorgeous place, that it wouldn’t feel like the holidays. Between decorations, holiday gatherings and local events, there’s not a chance that you can’t get caught up in it all.

Ca’ d’Zan Mansion, home of the circus king John Ringling and his wife is one of those places. Thursday nights in December, starting at 5pm are the Holiday Nights at Ca’ d’Zan. Admission is free with museum admission. The Ca’ d’Zan is all dressed up for the holidays. The decorations feature festive fireplace mantels, balconies, doors and a gorgeous 10-foot-tall tree that stands in the Grand Court.

Another holiday special is Lights in Bloom. This takes place at the beautiful Selby Gardens from December 16th through December 30th from 6pm - 9pm (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Visitors can stroll through magical gardens filled with beautifully lit flowers, butterflies, dragonflies and more. Also included in this tropical paradise are miniature garden trains, Santa and his elves (before Christmas Eve), plus live entertainment nightly.

While not a holiday tradition, you don’t want to miss out on the Siesta Beach Seafood & Music Festival taking place December 3rd and 4th. This unique event blends food, music and visual entertainment offering tastes of delectable seafood creations and delicious drinks prepared by the top restaurants in Siesta Key and Sarasota. Not only that, but there will be outstanding musical performances by local and regional musicians in a diversity of genres. Finally, there is an outdoor gallery of arts, crafts and food products. So while it might not be a holiday themed activity, you can complete your holiday shopping with some one-of-a-kind items!

Did you know, that when you book tours with Adventure Kayak Outfitters, you get all three tours in one? There’s no need to book three separate tours. On each tour, we will explore Sarasota by kayak, and during these tours, we will see many different types of wildlife.

When we kayak through the exotic mangrove tunnels, we gain a unique perspective. The mangroves are a natural habitat to many different plants, marine animals and native birds. Our native kayak guides will point out and explain things as we pass them.

Once we are out of the mangroves, and in the Sarasota Bay, you will love the excitement of encounters with bottle nosed dolphins and manatees. Manatees like to be in shallow salt water bays and estuaries. This makes kayaking in Sarasota, on Lido Key a perfect place to see them.

Whether you live in this area, or are here vacationing, Sarasota is one of the best places in the world to kayak. These experiences are one of a kind, and could be the memory of a lifetime. What’s better than kayaking the clear blue waters of Sarasota, and enjoying the best that nature has to offer?

At Adventure Kayak Outfitters, we try to make this Sarasota kayak experience simple from start to finish. We offer easy online booking, which includes a discount for booking online. We also offer gift certificates for hassle free gift buying. Not only do we make it simple, our tours are fun for the whole family! See you on the water!

Most people are familiar with Sarasota because of our beautiful white sandy beaches, specifically Siesta Key Beach. However, there are many other reasons to love our area. We are on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico with exquisite blue waters, warm temperatures and we are abundant with wild life. We see many examples of wildlife on our kayak tours, such as:

When you kayak through the exotic mangrove tunnels, you are taking an adventure on the very habitat that sustains many of these beautiful creatures. In Florida, we have three native species of mangroves.

Mangroves are like a protected nursery for fish, crustaceans, and shellfish. They are also vital to our fishing industry, both sporting and commercial. An estimated 75% of the game fish and 90% of the commercial fish species in south Florida depend on the mangrove system. The branches of mangroves also serve as nesting areas for coastal and wading birds such as the ones listed above. Not only do they provide habitat and shelter for animals, but mangroves also protect uplands from storm winds, waves, and floods.

The seeds or pods that float in the water looking for their next sprouting ground can also be used to brush your teeth! Try it the next time you take a kayak adventure in the exotic mangroves of South Lido Key.

Whether you are local to the Siesta Key area, or visiting, Siesta Key should be on your to-do list. There really is something for everyone.

Beach

If you are looking for powder soft white sand, that’s the place to go. The sand is not only soft, but it isn’t hot. So while you’re running from the water to your blanket, your feet won’t get burnt! The sunsets there are amazing – the thing postcards are made of. The water is beautiful and calm. The beach goes on for miles, as mentioned the sand isn’t hot, so it’s perfect for walking and running. If you’re paying attention, you can see dolphins swimming from time to time. On Sunday nights, locals get together for a drum circle. This takes place every Sunday, (even holidays) and begins a few hours before sunset. Visitors can simply sit and watch, or even jump in on the fun.

Shopping

Right next to Siesta Key is Lido Key. St. Armand’s Circle on Lido Key has some of the most elegant shopping and dining anywhere. John Ringling of the Ringling Brothers Circus used to call this place home. He dreamed to make this area a major tourist attraction and didn’t live to see it happen, but today his dream is a reality.

Activities

The possibilities are endless when it comes to activities in this area. There are miles of canals, and beautiful lush tropical landscape everywhere. If you are a nature enthusiast or bird watcher, this is the place for you. Travel down to the point of rocks to find some of the best snorkeling in the west coast of Florida. Turtle Beach is the place to go looking for shells, and is located on the southern tip of Siesta Key. Go to Lido Key for water sports of all types. Tournament class fishing, both inshore and offshore is available too with the almost 1000 species of fish we have. Sailing, boating and sunset cruises are available too. Lido Key is also the place to go kayaking. Paddlers will find a lush mangrove forest for lazy

Kayaking Lido Key Mangrove Tunnels

paddles, as well as open water areas where viewing of dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife will occur. We offer kayak tours twice daily. It is always an adventure, so bring your camera!

You can visit the Siesta Key area and do it all. If you’re looking for relaxation, sit on our beautiful beach and take in some rays. If you want excitement and dining, we have all of that too. Your adventure awaits!

Kayaking Checklist

Kayaking in Sarasota Bay is one of the most popular things to do here in Sarasota. If you have kayaked here in the past, you know first-hand how many people come out and enjoy these tours. If you haven’t before, there are some things that you should take with you on your fun filled journey. There is no experience necessary to kayak with us, our native Floridian guides will be there with you every step of the way.
Our top priorities are safety and a fun filled adventure. See our checklist of what to bring.

Sunblock – Florida sun is very strong. Bring it with you so it can be reapplied if needed.

Hat – A hat will help to cool you off, as well as shade your face from the sun.

Sunglasses – The sun glares off of the water and can make it difficult to see. Polarized glasses will make it easier to see in the water too.

Water – It is important to stay hydrated, so bring a drink with you.

Zip Lock Bag – If you don’t want something to get wet, bring a bag to seal it in.

Camera – There’s so much to see, you don’t want to miss a great photo opportunity.

Your desire to explore!

All of our kayaks are clean safe and stable. They come equipped with clean and comfortable personal floatation devices as well as light weight composite paddles.

Kayaking in Lido Key

Right outside the hub of St. Armand’s Circle in beautiful Sarasota lays the beauty of Lido Key. Lido Key is surrounded by gulf waters and Sarasota Bay. In South Lido Park, the waters are calm and serene. There’s so much to see. Guided kayak tours through the mangrove tunnels are one of the top highest things to do here in Sarasota. Our kayak trips have something for everyone.

Sarasota Bay

Sarasota Bay hosts about 140 bottle nosed dolphins that play in our waters. Manatees also call this home. They love it here because of the shallow waters filled with sea grass.

Kayaking is much more than just getting in the water and going. Whether it be a guided tour, or a rental there are so many options for both.

Our guided tours are fun for the whole family. We offer both Manatee and Dolphin tours which allow you to experience dolphins & manatees up close and personal in their native habitat. Our native Floridian guides are both informative and entertaining.

The Mangrove Tour allows you to explore the shallow waters of Little Lagoon and navigate your way through the maze of exotic mangrove tunnels that lead you into the sun-filled grass flats of brushy bayou and Big Grass Lagoon. There is truly excitement around every corner, and the lush mangroves offer some shade to cool off from the sun.

With a kayak rental the choice is yours. Renters have the ability to explore the open waters and the mangroves at your own pace. There is even a little sand bar. You can pull your kayak up and sit and watch boats go by, wade in the refreshing water, or catch some rays!

No matter how you spend your time here, the beauty and abundant wildlife will create memories to last a lifetime. Besides seeing dolphins and manatees, there are many different types of fish, crabs, starfish and beautiful native birds! It’s always an adventure with Adventure Kayak Outfitters